To know list: 7 items to ponder while the Red Sox teach us how to 'cowboy down'

Sporting News, The, July 12, 2004

Phil Mickelson's game is in top form, and Mike Weir is nearing the culmination of yet another swing rebuild. Another lefty, Sieve Flesch, is quietly making a statement alter finishing tied for seventh at Shinnecock.

Among righties, Stephen Ames is having an exceptional year and could restart the trend of first-time Tour winners at a major.--John Gordon

(5) THE POSTAGE STAMP

Tough to lick

The world's best players will just be getting over their nightmares about Shinnecock Hills' treacherous seventh hole, the Redan, when they have to face another classically diabolical par-3 at Royal Troon.

The Postage Stamp is aptly named, especially when viewed from the tee. The 126-yard eighth hole, the shortest of all Open Championship holes, demands the player hit an elongated sliver of green cut into the face of a dune. A pair of bunkers left of the green and another in front eliminate any bailout option.

Tiger Woods' triple bogey here in 1997 paled in comparison to the 15 posted by an unfortunate competitor in 1950. This hole, more than any other at Troon, lives up to the course's Latin motto: Tam arte quam marte--"As much by skill as by strength."--J.G.

(6) ALIVE AT FIVE

U.S. is streaking at Troon

The British Open has been played at Royal Troon five times in the past half-century. Each time, it has been won by an American, making it unique in that sense among the courses in the Open rotation. But there is no apparent reason for this quirk.

Arnold Palmer led the charge in 1962 with his swashbuckling attack on the course. In '73, Tom Weiskopf hit pinpoint approaches to take the title.

Tom Watson won in '82, but there's no point trying to explain that--the man won five British Opens.

Mark Calcavecchia, long and aggressive, added another asterisk to Greg Norman's career when he beat the Great White Shark and Wayne Grady in a playoff in '89. Lack of length was offset by superb chipping and putting in 1997 when Justin Leonard won his one and only major title, the last time the Open was played at Troon.--J.G.

(7) 500 vs. 300 Greats going at it

Matchups between 500-home run hitters and 300-win pitchers are rare, indeed. Last week in Chicago, Roger Clements and Sammy Sosa became the seventh set of such players to face each other after reaching their respective plateaus. It was the 12th game in which a 500-300 meeting took place. So, who has the advantage in these showdowns? Looks like the hitter, according To Retrosheet.org and STATS Inc.'s play-by-play reports.--Tom Gatto

(7) 500 VS. 300

Greats going at it

 Reggie      Reggie      Reggie       Mike       Rafael
Jackson     Jackson     Jackson     Schmidt     Palmeiro
  vs.         vs.         vs.         vs.         vs.
  Tom         Phil        Don         Don        Roger
 Seaver      Niekro      Sutton      Sutton     Clemens
4 games     2 games      1 game     2 games      1 game
4-for-6     0-for-4     0-for-2     1-for-5     2-for-3
  2 HR        3 BB                    1 BB        1 K
  5 BB

 Barry       Sammy
 Bonds        Sosa
  vs.         vs.
 Roger       Roger
Clemens     Clemens
 1 game      1 game
0-for-2     1-for-3
  1 BB
   2K